The Conversation

Note from the Artist: The Etching Process

I work on copper plates. Once the edges are slightly rounded with files and then burnished smooth so as to not accept any ink, the plate is then covered with asphaltum, heated and then cooled. This creates a ground that is acid resistant.

Then a line drawing on tracing paper is placed on the covered plate and run through the press to leave the image, now in reverse. I use engraving tools among other tools such as dental tools to engrave through the ground to expose the copper. Once satisfied with the image, the plate is put upside down into a mordant acid to etch away the copper. Depending upon the depth wanted dictates the time left in the bath.

The asphaltum is removed and the the plate is hand rubbed with ink. A soaked paper is placed on the press with felts on top and this is run through the press resulting in the first look at the image.

This process is repeated multiple times.

As you can see, this is a highly labor-intensive pursuit building layer upon layer of deepen darks and scraping, even burnishing to create the light.